To find colleges that are a good fit, you need to learn about the
factors that can influence your experience in and out of the
classroom. Develop your personal list of college search criteria
to find the best colleges for you.

A better search strategy will give you better results! Whether
you want information about colleges you think are a good fit, or
you want to find new colleges that are right for you, we have the
tips to get you started and the tools to finish the job

To find colleges that are a good fit, you need to learn about the factors that can influence your experience in and out of the classroom. Develop your personal list of college search criteria to find the best colleges for you.

A better search strategy will give you better results! Whether you want information about colleges you think are a good fit, or you want to find new colleges that are right for you, we have the tips to get you started and the tools to finish the job.

Expert
Advice

When you apply to college, planning and attention to detail really matter! Check out our advice on getting organized, how to make your college applications stand out, and what to do when decisions arrive.

When you apply to college, planning and attention to detail really matter! Check out our advice on getting organized, how to make your college applications stand out, and what to do when decisions arrive.

High School Location

To select particular locations, uncheck "Select All" and click on individual states, regions, and areas you wish to include. A pin indicates that a location is selected and will be included in the results. To deselect a location, click its pin. Click the blue X in the upper right hand corner to close the lightbox and view your results.

SCATTERGRAM VIEW
Your SAT scores have been convertedWhy is the scattergram so empty?Where is my in the scattergram?

YOU
?

Status

Applied

Accepted

Denied

Deferred

Wait-Listed

All Other Admissions Statuses

Applicant

Standard

Legacy

Athlete

Legacy + Athlete

Standard EA/ED

Legacy EA/ED

Athlete EA/ED

Legacy + Athlete EA/ED

To filter your Admissions Tracker Results by Application Status, uncheck the boxes associated with the statuses you do NOT wish to be included in the results. Check "Select All" to include all statuses.

Applied:

The student applied for admission and has not yet received a decision.

Accepted:

The student was admitted.

Denied:

The student was not admitted.

Deferred:

The student applied early and was deferred to regular admission.

Wait-Listed:

The student was wait-listed.

Not Applied:

The student has not yet applied or did not apply.

Withdrawn:

The student withdrew the application after accepting early admission at a different college.

Pending/None:

The student has not provided an application status. (Pending is not a current status option. It was previously used to indicate that the student had not yet decided whether to apply.)

To filter your Admissions Tracker Results by Decision Type, uncheck the box associated with the type you do NOT wish to be included in the results. Check "Select All" to include all types.

Regular:

The student applied for regular admission.

EA/ED:

The student applied early action or early decision.

To filter your Admissions Tracker Results by Applicant Type, uncheck the boxes associated with the types you do NOT wish to be included in the results. Check "Select All" to include all types.

Standard:

The student is not a recruited athlete or legacy applicant.

Legacy:

The student's parents or other close relatives attended the college.

Athlete:

The student is a recruited athlete.

To filter your Admissions Tracker Results by when students added or last updated their profiles, uncheck the boxes associated with the time periods you do NOT wish to be included in the results. Check "Select All" to include all time periods.

Today:

The student's Admissions Profile was added or last updated today.

This Week:

The student's Admissions Profile was added or last updated this week (includes today).

Last Week:

The student's Admissions Profile was added or last updated last week.

This Month:

The student's Admissions Profile was added or last updated this month (includes today).

Older:

The student's Admissions Profile was added or last updated prior to this month.

To view Admissions Tracker results for more than one college class combined, enter a range of class years. Results for the college classes of 2020 and earlier use "old SAT" scores, while results for the college classes of 2021 and later use "new SAT" scores. You cannot view a range that includes class years using both old and new SAT scores. Valid ranges are 2009-2020 and 2021-2024.

To filter your Admissions Tracker Results by Gender, uncheck the box associated with the gender you do NOT wish to be included in the results. Check "Select All" to include all students, including those who did not specify a gender.

Female:

The student is female.

Male:

The student is male.

To filter your Admissions Tracker Results by High School Location, click the map to make it larger. To select particular locations, uncheck "Select All" and click on individual states, regions, and areas you wish to include. A pin indicates that a location is selected and will be included in the results. Check "Select All" to include all students, including those who did not specify a location.

Region or Area:

To include, check the box associated with it.To exclude, uncheck the box associated with it.

State:

To include, click it on the map to select it.To exclude, click it on the map to deselect.

To filter your Admissions Tracker Results by High School Type, uncheck the boxes associated with the types you do NOT wish to be included in the results. Check "Select All" to include all types, including students who did not specify a high school type.

Public:

The student attended a public high school.

Private:

The student attended a private high school.

Parochial:

The student attended a private high school supported by a religious organization.

Home-Schooled:

The student was home-schooled.

To filter your Admissions Tracker Results by Residence, uncheck the box associated with the residency status you do NOT wish to be included in the results. Check "Select All" to include all students.

In-State:

The student is a resident of the state in which the college is located.

Out-of-State:

The student is not a resident of the state in which the college is located.

Your Admissions Tracker Results include the Admissions Profiles of all CollegeData users in the selected class year whose Admissions Profiles include the selected college. Your Admissions Profile will also display at the top of the list when you are logged in.

Profile Icons: Icons are used to indicate gender and how recently a profile was added or updated.

Female, profile added today

Male, profile added today

Gender not specified, profile added today

Female, profile updated today

Male, profile updated today

Gender not specified, profile updated today

Female, profile not added/updated today

Male, profile not added/updated today

Gender not specified, profile not added/updated today

Change College Class: Results are displayed by college class. To change the college class year, select a different tab. To view results for more than one college class, select the Multi-Year tab or enter a range of years in the Multi-Year filter. College class is not the same as high school graduating class. Students in the high school class of 2018 who plan to go directly to college after graduating are in the college class of 2022.

Filter Your Results: You can filter your results by Application Status, Decision Type, Applicant Type, Gender, High School Location, High School Type, Residency, and When Added/Updated. Uncheck the boxes associated with the criteria you do NOT wish to be included in the results. Check "Select All" to include all criteria in the category. When you use the filters, the number of profiles in the Table will change to include only those that match the selected criteria.

Pagination: If your Admissions Tracker Results include more than 50 Admissions Profiles, your results will be paginated. To go to a particular page of results, click on the page number. If your results include more than eight pages, "next" and "previous" links will be provided with the page numbers. Click "next" to go to the next set of eight pages. Click "previous" to go to the previous set of eight pages.

Sort Your Results: You may sort your list by profile name, gender, whether new or recently updated, high school type, high school state, unweighted GPA, weighted GPA, SAT scores (SAT Math, SAT Critical Reading, and SAT Writing for college class years 2020 and earlier; SAT Math and SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (ERW) for college class years 2021 and later), ACT Composite, and Application Status, as well as whether the student applied EA/ED, or was a legacy or recruited athlete. The current sort in use is indicated by this icon . To change the sort, click the appropriate column heading. To reverse the sort order  for example from low-to-high to high-to-low or from a-z to z-a  click the column heading again. This icon is the column heading for gender and whether new or recently updated. Mouse over it and click to select a sort option. If you have more than one page of results, the sort type and order will be applied to all pages.

View Admissions Profiles: Click a profile name to view the complete Admissions Profile, which contains detailed information about the student's college choices, academic and extracurricular qualifications, admissions decisions, and financial aid awards. Each Admissions Tracker Profile displays the information provided by an individual CollegeData user. The profiles are intended to be anonymous, so you won't know the identity of any other student (and no one else will know yours). CollegeData automatically creates random profile names, but users have the option to change the name. Admissions Profiles are stored securely in users' Data Lockers and may be updated at any time. Updates are incorporated into the Admissions Tracker Results in real time.

Save Admissions Profiles to Your Data Locker: To add an Admissions Profile to your Data Locker, check the box in the Save column and then click the "Save Checked" button. To save all Admissions Profiles on the page, check the "Select All" box and then click the "Save Checked" button. Profiles already saved to your locker have a "Saved" label instead of a checkbox. To remove an Admissions Profile you have saved, view the profile and then use the "Remove This Profile" link, or go to your Saved Admissions Profile list in your Data Locker and check the box to remove.

Keep in mind that the Admissions Tracker Results include only students who have created CollegeData Admissions Profiles  not all students who applied, or will apply, to the colleges.

Choose the type of grade point average (GPA) to plot as the vertical (Y) axis in the Scattergram. GPA uses a 4-point scale where A=4 points, B=3 points, C=2 points, D=1 point, F=0 points.

GPA Unweighted:

GPA capped at 4.00.

GPA Weighted:

GPA capped at 5.00, allowing up to 1 extra grade point for honors type courses if awarded by the high school.

Choose the test score to plot as the horizontal (X) axis in the Scattergram.

SAT 2400:

Combined score on SAT Math, Critical Reading and Writing.

SAT 1600:

Combined score on SAT Math and Critical Reading (or Verbal).

SAT Math:

Score on SAT Math.

SAT Critical Reading:

Score on SAT Critical Reading.

SAT Writing:

Score on SAT Writing.

ACT Composite:

Composite score on ACT.

Choose the test score to plot as the horizontal (X) axis in the Scattergram.

SAT 1600:

Combined score on SAT Math and Evidence-Based Reading and Writing

SAT Math:

Score on SAT Math

SAT ERW:

Score on SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing

ACT Composite:

Composite score on ACT

The Mean Lines indicate the average values for Accepted and Denied students.

The mean lines for accepted students are green; the point at which they intersect represents the average GPA and test score for accepted students.

The mean lines for denied students are red; the point at which they intersect represents the average GPA and test score for denied students.

Click the "" to zoom in on the Scattergram, When you are zoomed in, click and drag your mouse to display different areas of the scattergram. Click the "" to zoom out.

Enter the name of the college you want to track admissions for. As you type, a drop down list of matching colleges will display.

If the college you want is on the list, select it. This will automatically submit the form and return your new Admissions Tracker Results.

If the college you want isn't on the list, hit the Enter or Return key on your keyboard or click the ">>" button to see a list of all colleges that match the text you entered. Select the correct college name to get your results.

If you aren't sure of the exact name, enter key word(s) in the name. For example, if you enter "San Diego" your choices will include San Diego Christian College, San Diego State University, University of San Diego, and University of California, San Diego. If you enter part of the name, your results will include all colleges that contain that text. You can also enter well known abbreviations, such as UCLA or SUNY.

The Admissions Tracker Results Summary displays the average, low, and high GPAs and test scores of CollegeData users whose Admissions Profiles list the selected college as a college choice for the class year you've selected. If a Profile doesn't include a test score or GPA, it won't be counted in the average, but it will be included in results. Your Admissions Profile data will also display in the Summary when you are logged in.

Change College Class: To change the college class year, select a different tab. To view results for more than one college class, select the Multi-Year tab or enter a range of years in the Multi-Year filter. College class is not the same as high school graduating class. Students in the high school class of 2018 who plan to go directly to college after graduating are in the college class of 2022.

Filter Your Results: You can filter your results by Application Status, Decision Type, Applicant Type, Gender, High School Location, High School Type, Residency, and When Added/Updated. Uncheck the boxes associated with the criteria you do NOT wish to be included in your results. Check "Select All" to include all criteria in the category. When you use the filters, the number of profiles in the Summary will change to include only those that match the selected criteria.

Keep in mind that the Admissions Tracker Results include only students who have created CollegeData Admissions Profiles  not all students who applied, or will apply, to the colleges.

The Admissions Tracker Scattergram graphs the Admissions Profiles in your results by GPA and SAT or ACT scores. Each icon on the Scattergram represents an individual CollegeData user whose Admissions Profile lists the selected college as a college choice for the class year you've selected. If you have an Admissions Profile, a star icon representing you will display in the Scattergram when you are logged in.

The icons have different shapes and colors to reflect different application statuses, decision types and applicant types. See the key below the Scattergram for details. Each point on the Scattergram represents a unique GPA and test score combination. Mouse over an icon to see the corresponding profile name, gender, application status, and GPA and test score values.

Horizontal and Vertical Axes: The vertical (Y) axis is GPA. You can select unweighted or weighted GPA. The horizontal (X) axis is test score. For college class years 2020 and earlier, you can select SAT 2400, SAT 1600, SAT Math, SAT Critical Reading, SAT Writing, or ACT Composite. For college class years 2021 and later, you can select SAT 1600, SAT Math, SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (ERW), or ACT Composite. When you switch an axis, the number of profiles in the Scattergram will change to include only those that provide the data you¡¯ve selected for the horizontal and vertical axes. Not all profiles contain all data, so you may see fewer profiles in the Scattergram than in the Table.

Change College Class: To change the college class, select a different tab. College class is not the same as high school graduating class. To view results for more than one college class, select the Multi-Year tab or enter a range of years in the Multi-Year filter. Students in the high school class of 2018 who plan to go directly to college after graduating are in the college class of 2022.

Filter Your Results: You can filter your results by Application Status, Decision Type, Applicant Type, Gender, High School Location, High School Type, Residency, and When Added/Updated. Uncheck the boxes associated with the criteria you do NOT wish to be included in the results. Check "Select All" to include all criteria in the category. When you use the filters, the number of profiles in the Scattergram will change to include only those that match the selected criteria AND provide the data you've selected for the horizontal and vertical axes.

View Admissions Profiles: Click on an icon to view the complete Admissions Profile, which contains detailed information about the student's college choices, academic and extracurricular qualifications, admissions decisions, and financial aid awards. Each Admissions Tracker Profile displays the information provided by an individual CollegeData user. The profiles are intended to be anonymous, so you won't know the identity of any other student (and no one else will know yours). CollegeData automatically creates random profile names, but users have the option to change the name. Admissions Profiles are stored securely in users' Data Lockers, and may be updated at any time. Updates are incorporated into the Admissions Tracker Results in real time.

Keep in mind that the Admissions Tracker Results include only students who have created CollegeData Admissions Profiles  not all students who applied, or will apply, to the colleges.

If your SAT scores are from March 2016 or later, we have converted your "new SAT" scores to "old SAT" scores so you can more easily compare yourself to applicants with "old SAT" scores in earlier class years. We used the conversion formulas developed by the College Board. A "c" next to the score indicates it has been converted.

Your Reported Scores

Math

Evidence-BasedReading & Writing

Reading Test

Writing & Language Test

Your Converted Scores

Math

Critical Reading

Writing

The Admissions Tracker Results for the college classes of 2021 and later only include scores from the "new SAT" (taken after February 2016). We recently updated the Admissions Profile form so that students can indicate which version of the SAT they took and enter the scores in the correct format. However, because many students added SAT scores before the form was revised, their scores are considered "old SAT" scores and are not currently displayed. Once students update their Profiles to use the "new SAT" format, their scores will be displayed.

The Admissions Tracker Results for the college classes of 2021 and later only include scores from the "new SAT" (taken after February 2016). We recently updated the Admissions Profile form so that students can indicate which version of the SAT they took and enter the scores in the correct format. However, because many students added SAT scores before the form was revised, their scores are considered "old SAT" scores and cannot be displayed. Once students update their Profiles to use the "new SAT" format, their "dots" will show up in the scattergram.

The scattergram for the college classes of 2021 and later only displays "new SAT" scores. The star icon that represents you is not displaying because your Admissions Profile appears to contain "old SAT" scores. If you added your SAT scores before the Profile form was revised to allow entry of "new SAT" scores, you will need to update your scores in your Profile. Once you update your scores, your star icon will display. Update your SAT scores.

If your SAT scores are from March 2016 or later, we have converted your "new SAT" scores to "old SAT" scores so you can more easily compare yourself to applicants with "old SAT" scores in earlier class years. We used the conversion formulas developed by the College Board. A "c" next to the score indicates it has been converted.

Your Reported Scores

Math

Evidence-BasedReading & Writing

Reading Test

Writing & Language Test

Your Converted Scores

Math

Critical Reading

Writing

Click the link to open the NEWSFEED in a pop-up window.

The NEWSFEED streams Admissions Tracker activity as it happens. See which colleges have new Admissions Profiles and which profiles have been updated, including who was admitted where  all in real time.

List View:

Select "List View" to view the results in a sortable list.Your results will include Admissions Profiles of all CollegeData users in the selected class year whose Admissions Profiles include the selected college.

Scattergram:

Select "Scattergram" to view the results in a graph.The Scattergram graphs the Admissions Profiles in your results by GPA and SAT or ACT scores. Each dot represents an individual CollegeData user whose Admissions Profile lists the selected college as a college choice for the class year you've selected.

If you like this college, check out its overlaps. Overlaps are the top six colleges that students interested in this college also include most often in their Admissions Profiles on COLLEGEdata.

The Admissions Tracker Results for the college classes of 2021 and later only display "new SAT" scores. Your scores are not displaying because your Admissions Profile appears to contain "old SAT" scores, which cannot be displayed with "new SAT" scores. If you added your SAT scores before the Profile form was revised to allow entry of "new SAT" scores, you will need to update your scores in your Profile. Once you update your Profile, your scores will display here. Update your SAT scores.

Only "new SAT" scores are included in the Admissions Tracker Results for the college classes of 2021 and later. If no scores are displayed for a particular Profile, it is likely that the student added scores before the website was updated to allow entry of "new SAT" scores. Once students update their Profiles to use the "new SAT" format, their scores will be displayed.

The Admissions Tracker Results for the college classes of 2021 and later only display "new SAT" scores. Your scores are not displaying because your Admissions Profile appears to contain "old SAT" scores, which cannot be displayed with "new SAT" scores. If you added your SAT scores before the Profile form was revised to allow entry of "new SAT" scores, you will need to update your scores in your Profile. Once you update your Profile, your scores will display here. Update your SAT scores.